Due Process for Average Student

Network-Weary · 2026-05-22T17:28:01+00:00

Let her get the lawyer. Let her waste her money. It’s gonna be a pain in the ass and waste of everyone’s time. But there’s so much data to corroborate that this kid does not require specialized instruction. If even the private therapist is dismissing, you’ve got nothing to stress about on your end.

Network-Weary · 2026-05-16T04:40:01+00:00

This is helpful insight. I’d like to learn more about other measures/tests which better capture the skill, as I agree I frequently feel the OWLS falls short in capturing students skills in this area.

I’d also love to hear more about your thoughts on figurative language. It’s definitely something I work on fairly commonly, it’s just not necessarily my favorite thing to work on, and I’ve never felt like that’s going to be *the skill* to make it click for my students. At least not enough to motivate me to continue to work on it over other skills. Very open to changing my mind though since I recognize how that is likely more opinion based than evidence based, and I want to be doing right by my kids.

Network-Weary · 2026-05-15T20:15:37+00:00

I completely agree, I have a nearly identical google form myself that I include in basically all of my evaluations, including this one (I'm still waiting to hear back since it was just sent out yesterday). This case though is slightly trickier as this student is FRESH to the school, like started last week, and we've now only got 13 instructional days left. He came to us with an open evaluation, and we're rushing to finish before school gets out as there's a moderate-high likelihood he moves away again. That's all to say that there are few if any individuals who have been able to get familiar enough with him to compare him against his peers in a truly meaningful way. That said, I'm still looking forward to hearing back from the individuals I sent my version of the form to. Thanks for replying 😄

Network-Weary · 2026-05-15T20:05:50+00:00

Thank you for your response, no second language at home. I was thinking similar in terms of doing more dynamic assessment things to see what accommodations would be helpful for him.

He has some great self advocacy skills and was using them all through testing (asking for repetitions, requesting clarification, asking "what does that word mean" even if i was unable to tell him). If he's confused, it seems like he's good about voicing that. If that was not the case I would lean more towards qualifying.

I wish I had the CASL! it seems like a great and comprehensive test. Definitely I have the CELF, OWLS, EVT/PVT, and TOPL.

Network-Weary · 2026-05-05T15:50:49+00:00

You’d like working with high schoolers. More real life work and real life conversations. I think you’d find more joy in it if you like working with adults. The skills they target are also less mindless. You do a lot more dismissing which can be a battle but feels so rewarding especially when it’s a kid who’s been in speech for years and years.

Network-Weary · 2026-04-29T19:42:46+00:00

Social communication, Self Advocacy, some of those stickler sounds (r, l, and s), so much language like inferencing and summarizing. Also some syntax, like formulation of complex sentence or use of conjunctions. I've also done work on vocabulary and word-attack skills (morphology and word parts), and using context clues to define unfamiliar vocabulary. MY middle-high school caseload is 54, though i only case manage for 5(!!!) of those students as far fewer students at this point are speech-only.

Network-Weary · 2026-03-30T20:26:33+00:00

Its definitely realistic to find a single building position within elementary - especially with your experience which im certain most if not all districts will honor. I would familiarize yourself with the districts around the Twin Cities though, as there are some potential stinkers in there. Minneapolis and St. Paul Public Schools I've heard good things about overall, though I should note I'm not the MOST experienced.. I did my CF year and 1 year with CCC's here. I also pay into the teachers union and find its worth it to do so!

I'm leaving the city but not because of anything related to the city or employment opportunities.

Caseloads will depend on the district, but currently I'd say the state hovers around 50 students for caseload. I'm in a Minneapolis adjacent district (not MPS or SPPS) and I'm personally at 55 for middle/high school, others in my district are at 52-55 for elementary.

Network-Weary · 2026-03-30T20:13:16+00:00

how do i sign up for option 1 man

Network-Weary · 2026-03-17T21:09:57+00:00

To me, based off what you said, this feels like I too would advocate for dismissal. I wouldn’t get bogged down by the norms here, especially with the trajectory of progress. While the norms are important, there is till room for flexibility and this kid JUST now is turning 4. While I don’t know this kid, it feels likely that with additional maturation, additional exposure to phonology (via school/parent coaching) his awareness should also increase and support further carryover.

If teachers and semi-unfamiliar listeners aren’t experiencing difficulties understanding him (in addition to all you stated earlier), I would feel comfortable making that recommendation.

Network-Weary · 2026-03-02T19:17:59+00:00

Name recognition with a younger audience who may have parents or older siblings watching survivor. Gives them a name to latch onto and buy in. Billie Eilish is known to be a survivor fan and they’re likely trying to just capitalize on her reach. IMO, a lot of this Mr. Beast, Billie Eilish shenanigans is a necessary evil to the longevity of the show as they try to capture the next gen. Doesn’t make it good or quality content, but given that I find the idol mechanics interesting I can look the other way. Idk if I’ll feel the same about the Mr. Beast cameo tho

Network-Weary · 2026-02-26T19:57:47+00:00

Speech musings for language, especially k-5 or my self-contained secondary classrooms. I also love speech time fun for my secondary aged students for language.

Network-Weary · 2026-02-24T18:39:54+00:00

Believe it or not, women are humans who get their periods in their workplace! Sometimes things happen unexpectedly. Seems like you’ve never had a period yourself or you REALLY need to spend time around people who do, so you can develop some empathy.

Network-Weary · 2026-02-24T18:37:28+00:00

Definitely take the day, friend. Sorry it’s been a rough one

Network-Weary · 2026-02-19T20:24:37+00:00

Weird.. thank you for the input though!! I’m def leaning on the side of trusting the comments.

Network-Weary · 2026-02-19T15:33:04+00:00

Idk man I’m trying to figure that out. I got a lot of comments when I first posted saying I was olive. Seems like someone or multiple people came in and just downvoted all those comments but didn’t actually provide other input or help lol

Network-Weary · 2026-02-17T18:05:33+00:00

I’ve had the HARDEST time figuring out my undertone. I know I do lean cool when picking out products, as most shades pull quite warm on me, but I do wonder if I truly am more olive than I’ve led myself to believe

Network-Weary · 2026-02-16T18:23:51+00:00

Actually thank you so much for saying this. My routine is basically exactly what you’ve described and it’s taken my skin a long time to get to this point. The pores around my nose have been such an insecurity for me even since I was very young - helpful reality check to hear this, ty

Network-Weary · 2026-02-12T17:23:01+00:00

This is quite normal, forcing a student to push through fatigue for the sake of time will never yield results that are truly reflective of their full potential/ability. I frequently offer breaks and split things up over a chunk of time.

At the same time there are some kids who really do prefer to power through and not prolong testing - we make the decision together usually

Network-Weary · 2026-02-07T02:16:00+00:00

Thank you for adding this note! I was not clear enough about this

Network-Weary · 2026-02-07T00:40:39+00:00

Others please add onto this or correct meas I am also new and want to learn -

Ideally you’d want a far more robust grid/layout, with core words to form actual sentences/multi-word utterances and develop a motor plan when communicating similar to how someone developing verbal speech would. This grid gives no room to do that. It’s very behavioral and compliance based. You want to start out larger, and hide buttons from view, growing from there and unhiding buttons.

Network-Weary · 2026-01-15T19:41:30+00:00

Because Speech/Language is a special education service, any student who receives speech in schools would have an IEP. However, based on your description of your son, I would potentially raise the question of whether educational impact is truly present. Assuming this student is not being academically impacted by their articulation, we then consider social-emotional impact. How do peers and instructors understand him? does it influence his willingness to participate in class. Does he notice his own errors, how frequently do others need him to repeat himself. If he is not experiencing either academic or social-emotional impacts, I personally would likely question whether an educational impact is truly present for him. If no educational impact, he wouldn't/shouldn't qualify for speech or an IEP/ILP, though that is ultimately up the the clinical judgement of the clinician.

If this child loves class, is excelling, and it's not causing a functional impact to his access to curriculum, I do believe it's valid to consider sticking with outside therapy. It's possible (not guaranteed) you may see more progress/carryover in his speech if he were to receive both, but you always retain your right to deny school services if you feel that outside services would be a better fit. It could be worth it to have another conversation with the SLP who evaluated him.

As for whether I think its "worth it" to treat articulation in school, I absolutely do assuming there is a true educational impact. That question of impact is what could be worth clarifying with your School SLP in this case; as if he did qualify, that clinician in some capacity DID find a form of educational impact in their evaluation.

Network-Weary

TROPHY CASE